Fighting back the tears that immediately filled my eyes, I glared at her, my jaw tense. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
A buzzing sound began inside my head as I struggled to keep some semblance of self-control and composure. I wanted to cause a scene—to find Dalton and smack him across his traitorous face—something that would make him feel as broken as I did.
“Did someone tell you?” I asked Kristy as she continued to watch me.
She shook her head. “I was walking past them when he asked her. I’m so sorry, Cammie. I don’t know what the hell is going on between you two, but”—she paused, placing her hand on my shoulder and squeezing—“I almost punched him in the face as I passed by.”
I let out an angry huff. “You should have.”
“Well, next time I see him, I might.” She shrugged one shoulder, and I silently wished that she would.
• • •
“We were idiots. I mean it. Seriously, idiots,” I said with a slight laugh and a yawn. I couldn’t believe that after all this time, Dalton had only asked Carla to prom because he thought I was going with Mark. I had been so hurt for all these years over something that could have been fixed with a single conversation.
“We were just kids. We didn’t know any better.” He leaned toward me, closing the space between us. “I know better now,” he said as he placed a soft kiss on my lips.
“I should hope so,” I said, then kissed him back.
“But I will say this. When I got to prom, I didn’t see you or Mark there. I looked for you all night. And when you never showed up, my mind went crazy with scenarios as to where you and him were. I tried to talk to you after that, but you wouldn’t speak to me. Hell, you wouldn’t even look at me.”
Dalton was right. After he’d asked Carla to prom, I felt like I’d been slapped in the face. I loved the way I felt when I was in Dalton’s arms, or being kissed by him, but his actions proved that I meant little more to him than a hookup. And my heart couldn’t take it because by that point, he had meant everything to me.
“I was heartbroken,” I said softly, having trouble meeting his eyes. “You were the only light in my life. And then you became part of the gray like everything else. I didn’t know how to see you as light anymore after that.”
His hand flew to his chest as if my words had wounded him. “Jesus, Cammie. Hearing that shit kills me. Even now.”
“I was so sad. I don’t know any other way to put it.” I yawned again, then nuzzled my cheek against his chest.
“You wouldn’t even look at me after prom. I can’t believe I never put two and two together.”
I lifted one shoulder in a small shrug and spoke into his shirt. “I refused to let you hurt me again after that. But I also knew that my willpower was weak when it came to you, and I didn’t want to hear the reason why you asked Carla Benten to prom and not me. If it was a good reason, I didn’t want to hear it.”
“So you stayed away from me completely.” He sighed. “As much as I fucking hated that, I get it.” Dalton ran his fingers through my hair, causing my eyes to close as I lay snuggled against his side. “Hey, I’m going to go,” he said as his lips pressed against my head.
Leaning back, I looked up at him through groggy eyes. “I’m sorry I can’t stay awake. What time is it?”
“Don’t apologize. And it’s after ten.”
“Crap.” I knew I’d pay tomorrow for staying up this late.
“I’m sorry I kept you up so late, but tonight was perfect. Thank you.” He leaned forward, pressing his lips against mine again, and I was half-tempted to tell him to stay.
“It was perfect. Thank you for coming over. Talk to you later?” I grinned at him sleepily. Or maybe it was dopily; I was so out of it I couldn’t be sure.
“Talk? Hell, I can’t wait to see you again,” he said with a smile before rising off the couch and extending his hand.
I linked my fingers with his as he pulled me up and gave me a tight hug. “Do you want some cookies for the road?” I asked, and reached for the plate.
“Yes,” he answered a little too enthusiastically, and I laughed.
Grabbing several cookies and placing them into a zipper bag, I handed it to Dalton as I led him toward the front door. I turned the knob and pulled the door open, shivering as a blast of chilled night air hit me.
Dalton slid his arms around me and turned me around to face him. I snuggled against his chest before glancing up at his eyes. His lips pressed against mine, and I moaned involuntarily as I opened my mouth to him. Our kiss deepened as my world spun. Hands splayed over the small of my back, his fingers dug into my skin as he pulled me tighter against him. We grasped for each other, pressing together as if we couldn’t get close enough. If any space existed between us, it was too much. I longed for the night when nothing would be—no jeans, no cotton, not even air.
We both pulled back at the same time, our lips slowly drifting apart as if it was the last thing on earth either one of us wanted to do. “I’ll see you later,” he whispered before kissing the top of my head.